Blues News!

January 2016

The Results Are In!

The 2016 Mississippi Blues Marathon was better than ever, with a capacity field of runners from all over the U.S. and around the world. Click here for race results. Click here for Age Group Results.

The first to cross the finish line in the marathon division was Bryan Morseman of Bath, NY, finishing in 2:35:13. In the women’s marathon division, Shandra Moore of Lindale, TX finished on top with a time of 3:15:47.

Thank you for continuing to make the Blues a success. See ya’ll next year!

Kids Rocked the Streets of Downtown Jackson

With the biggest field to date, the kids rocked the Blues through downtown Jackson during the Get Ready to Run Kids’ One-Mile Fun Run. Click here for the Kids’ Race results!

Save the Date!

Mark your calendars for the 10th Annual Mississippi Blues Marathon, scheduled for Saturday, January 7, 2017! More details to come, including registration and more! See you in 2017!

November 2015

For the sixth year “running,” the Mississippi Blues Marathon will serve as a Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) Championship Event. The 2016 Mississippi Blues Marathon has been selected as the Southern RRCA Championship, marking the sixth year the Blues has served as a RRCA state, regional or championship event. The RRCA is one of the oldest distance running traditions in the U.S., getting its start in 1958 when the club awarded its first championship designation. The event series highlights excellent community-based events, promotes running as a sport and recognizes top performers.

“The Mississippi Blues Marathon is proud to welcome the RRCA once again and is proud to continue our partnership with this prestigious group,” said John Noblin, Race Director of the Mississippi Blues Marathon. “We work to make our race better each year and are excited about the continued opportunity to welcome new visitors to the Jackson area and to provide a challenging event that allows us to showcase our hospitality.”

The 2016 Mississippi Blues Marathon will mark the race’s nine-year anniversary, paying tribute to Mississippi Blues legend B.B. King who passed away May 14, 2015. King’s image will appear on many of the race items, including finisher’s medals.

Race weekend events begin on Thursday, January 7, 2016 at the Blues Expo, which will take place downtown at the Jackson Convention Complex. Expo hours are 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday and 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, January 8. The Expo is open to the public and will feature live entertainment. Vendors will also be onsite to sell a variety of goods ranging from health and nutrition items, Mississippi specialty items and running gear.

Registration for the Mississippi Blues Marathon, including the half marathon, quarter note, relay is available here. Kids’ One-Mile Fun Run registration is available here. More information about race weekend activities including course maps, entertainment schedules and more will be available closer to race day. To learn more about the RRCA, visit www.rrca.org.

September 2015

2016 Mississippi Blues Marathon to Honor the Memory of B.B. King

We are honored to announce that the 2016 Mississippi Blues Marathon will remember the life of B.B. King, who passed away May 14, 2015. This classic image of B.B. will be featured on several of our race items, including our award-winning finisher's medal, shown here.

June 2015

Blues Medal Ranked Top in the Nation, Five Years “Running”

For the fifth year in a row, the Mississippi Blues Marathon finisher’s medal ranked in the Top 25 Finisher’s Medals by Marathon & Beyond magazine, with the 2014 event medal taking the #20 spot.

A much anticipated annual tradition among running enthusiasts, Marathon & Beyond publishes winners from the previous year’s race calendar. Winning medals are selected by a panel of judges from around the country including marathon veterans and avid runners. The life-like blue glitter guitar is suspended from a ribbon mimicking the neck of the guitar with a pick attached.

Marathon & Beyond’s Tony Nguyen says, “This medal takes the place of a symbol that represents the race: a guitar for the Mississippi Blues. Pitch perfect. I just want to grab this guitar and play a riff. Added bonus: pick is included.”

"It's a great honor to have been recognized in Marathon & Beyond's Top 25 finisher medals for the fifth consecutive year," said John Noblin, Race Director. "Finisher medals have become a huge part of the marathon community, so it's nice that our event has become known for a great medal. The tough part now is to figure out how to maintain that reputation. We have already been working on next year's medal for several months, so I'm confident that we will come up with something that meets everyone's expectations."

The 2015 Mississippi Blues Marathon welcomed more than 3,000 runners from all 50 states and seven countries. Registration is open for the 2016 Mississippi Blues Marathon, set for Saturday, January 9, 2016.

January 2015

The Results Are In!

It was anything but the Blues on Saturday, January 10 as 3052 runners tackled the streets of Jackson for the 8th Annual Mississippi Blues Marathon.

The first to cross the finish line in the marathon division was Jay List of Holland, NY, finishing in 2:41:34. In the women’s marathon division, Kar Elliott finished on top with a time of 2:57:39.

Kids Rock the Blues!

Our Kids’ One-Mile Fun continues to be a success with more than 1,000 kids lining up to be part of the Blues! The Kids’ Fun Run continues to grow, fueled by the success of the Get Ready to Run school program. This school year, more than 13,000 kids throughout central Mississippi have taken part in the program, learning about the healthy habit of running. This spring, students along the Mississippi Gulf Coast will also “Get Ready to Run!”

Thanks Ya’ll!

Southern hospitality and spirit are just some of the words runners use to describe our volunteers – we couldn’t do it without them.

It takes hundreds of volunteers to make the Mississippi Blues Marathon a success each year and, from the bottom of our hearts, we appreciate everything you do. Thank you for being part of one of Jackson’s biggest and best events of the year!

Save the Date!

January 9, 2016 is the date for the 9th Annual Mississippi Blues Marathon! See ya’ll there! Check back soon for additional information regarding registration and more!

August 2014

Marathon Maniacs & Half Fanatics Reunion Weekend

The 2015 Mississippi Blues Marathon is excited to host Marathon Maniacs and Half Fanatics for a Reunion Weekend! The Mississippi Blues Marathon/Mobile First Light Marathon will provide Maniacs and Fanatics with a three-day weekend to enjoy two races in two states in two days. We are looking forward to seeing all you Maniacs and Fanatics in January!

June 2014

2015 Blues Selected as RRCA National Championship

The 2015 Mississippi Blues Marathon has been selected as the RRCA Marathon Championship Event, marking the fifth year that a Mississippi Blues event has served as a RRCA state, regional or championship event. The RRCA Championship Event Series is one of the oldest distance running traditions in the U.S., dating back to 1958 when the RRCA awarded its first championship designation. The goal of the RRCA Championship Event Series is to shine a spotlight on well-run, community-based events and to promote the sport of running by recognizing the top-performing runners in the country.

"We are very pleased to have been selected as the 2015 RRCA Marathon National Championship," said John Noblin, Race Director, Mississippi Blues Marathon. "Both our Marathon and Half Marathon have served as RRCA State and Regional Championships in the past, and we are excited about the opportunity to take the next step and serve as a National Championship. We feel like this is a validation of the effort we have put in over the last seven years to make the Mississippi Blues Marathon a national-caliber event focused on giving our runners a great race and a great overall experience."

May 2014

For the fourth year in a row, the Mississippi Blues Marathon finisher’s medal placed in the Top 25 Finisher’s Medals by Marathon & Beyond magazine, taking home the #6 spot. This was the Blues’ highest finish yet since debuting at #22 in 2010. A highly anticipated annual tradition, Marathon & Beyond publishes winners from the previous year’s race calendar. Winning medals are selected by a panel of judges from around the country, including marathon veterans and running enthusiasts.

The blue glitter guitar hardware is suspended from a ribbon mimicking a guitar strap with a pick attached to the medal. Marathon & Beyond’s Rob Rayder says, “Once again this down-home Southern race, held in the heart of the Delta, has captured the spirit of the Blues. The design is creative, with the ribbon serving as the guitar strap and an actual pick suspended from the base. It almost makes me wish I learned how to play guitar.”

"We're very excited about the Marathon & Beyond recognition for several reasons,” said John Noblin, Race Director. “This was our fourth consecutive year to be ranked in their Top 25 and our highest ranking yet. It shows our medal to a huge new audience and helps communicate the quality of our event."

The 2014 Mississippi Blues Marathon attracted a sold-out, record-setting field of runners. More than 3,000 runners from all 50 states and seven countries took part in this year’s race. Registration is open for the 2015 Mississippi Blues Marathon, set for Saturday, January 10, 2015. The race has been expanded to accommodate 4,000 runners and will debut the “Quarter Note,” a quarter marathon event of 10.5k. Stay up-to-date on all the latest news at www.msbluesmarathon.com or follow the Blues on Facebook and Twitter.

April 2014

Mississippi Blues Marathon Announces the "Quarter Note"

The Mississippi Blues Marathon is pleased to announce an exciting new addition to our race lineup – the “Quarter Note.” If you’re a brand new runner, a walker, or just like to keep your mileage low, the new 6.6 mile quarter marathon will give you the starting line excitement of Mississippi’s largest road race and a finish line experience shared with the marathoners and half-marathoners. “Quarter Note” runners will cover the first 4.5 miles and the last two miles of the marathon and half-marathon courses, complete with live music, aid stations and cheering crowds. “Quarter Note” runners will get the same registration packet as the marathoners, including our popular race shirt, bag, limited edition CD and customized Blues Marathon harmonica, along with a great finisher’s medal. So get ready to play the Blues with the new “Quarter Note." Registration is opening soon! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up on the latest Blues news.

January 2014

Thanks for Getting the Blues Y'all!

We'd like to extend our thanks to everyone who helped make the 2014 Mississippi Blues Marathon the biggest and best yet! A sold out field of runners packed the streets of Jackson for this annual world-class event and more than 1,200 kids took part in the Kids' One-Mile Fun Run. Congratulations to Ryan Henderson of Madison who won the men's marathon division with a time of 2:43:26 and Lindsey Pierret of Eden Prairie, Minnesota who took home the women's marathon title, finishing in 3:15:23. John Hager of Alpharetta, Georgia was the winner of the half-marathon, finishing in 1:14:42 and Melissa Robinson of Austin, Texas was the women's winner of the half-marathon in 1:32:30. Click here to view race results for all divisions. Thank you for running and to all who volunteered, cheered and supported the seventh year of this event! We look forward to seeing everyone next year! Save the date for January 10, 2015!